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In February of 2013, the first steps were taken to transform the old “La Fortaleza” prison on the banks of the Salao river in La Romana into a cultural center, the Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima. Today, this dream is finally coming true.
The Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima will be officially inaugurated in a ceremony led by the Dominican Ministry of Culture next Wednesday July 30th.
According to Jenny Polanco, Dominican designer, Casa de Campo villa and business owner, who is also passionately working with the Dominican Ministry of Culture as a “Gestora Cultural Zone Este” (cultural advocate), “the village is a pilot project for the Ministry of Culture with the intention to self-finance, strengthen and promote culture in the region.”
In a visit to the site of the Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima in January of this year, Dominican Minister of Culture José Antonio Rodríguez, told Casa de Campo Living of his dreams for the cultural village “it will be part of La Romana, something which the town can take ownership of”.
Dominican Minister of Culture José Antonio Rodríguez at the cultural center
Within the Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima, tourists and visitors will find a celebration of Dominican culture; shops and workshops were talented Dominican artisans create and sell their products. There will also be also be an an outdoor amphitheater for theatrical and musical productions, as well as a school, the Casa de la Cultura, being re-located from its currently location on the intersection of the Francisco Richiez St. and Duarte St. in La Romana. The Casa de la Cultura offers youngsters of the greater La Romana area the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cultural pursuits, such as music and art.
Jenny Polanco explained that “the shops will be one of the ways of generating profits, to contribute towards the self-sustainability of the project, while also promoting the crafts produced in the workshops of the Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima.”
Tourists from across the Dominican Republic are expected to visit the new cultural village once it is opened, but it will be especially popular with tourists arriving on cruiseships to the La Romana – Casa de Campo port, who will be able to walk there from their ship.
While the opening ceremony during the day of July 30th 2014 is not open to the public, for members of the public wishing to celebrate this dawn of a new cultural era in La Romana, an inaugural concert will take place at 7pm. There will also be 2 cultural exhibits of Dominican arts and crafts also open to the public.
Where is it?
The Aldea Cultural Santa Rosa de Lima is on the left immediately as you cross the bridge over the Salao river entering La Romana. It is a white building which looks a little like a fortress (hence the former name – La Fortaleza). To get to it you need to be on the side of the road heading back out of La Romana, before crossing the bridge you turn right and cross over the railway tracks.